Case Study: Southeast Houston Home Burglary [USA]

Burglars Caught On Camera Breaking Into Home

Published: 05-Oct-2024

Case studies disclaimer

The case studies are meant to suggest ideas, not to criticize the homeowners.

Our intention is to provide the security suggestions, based on video / photo / story sources that we find online.

The address of the property, names and faces of the people on the source images / videos will be censored and blurred, although we are not responsible if these details were revealed by the original source itself.

The video that was published on Click2Houston YouTube channel shows us two burglars who were caught on surveillance cameras:

Although the camera footage shows 2016, the news reports were from 2018, so we assume that the date setting was not set.

This is the second burglary that has taken place to this home owner.

According to the information from the news report, the first event happened in September 2017, while this one happened in April.

As stated by the owner:

“It’s kind of scary…seems like there is a pattern here…I already had a break-in two months ago…I don’t really know what else to do”

We can only guess whether these were the same burglars. By looking at the way they handled the fence and back door, there is a chance these were the same people who were involved in the first event that took place in September.

We will try to analyze what happened and provide some suggestions regarding security.

Therefore, the following sections are included in this case study:

• Security level audit
• Home security suggestions

Let’s begin.

Security level audit

We’ll start with the most obvious one – the security cameras that allowed us to see the burglars.

The website owner installed surveillance cameras, most likely a system of four cameras similar to this one.

We can only see the footage from camera #1 and camera #3, which were placed in the backyard, so we assume camera #2 and #4 were monitoring the front yard and/or side of the house.

The camera #3 shows us how they managed to jump over the wooden fence in the backyard, while camera #1 shows us how they broke into the house.

The burglars were able to unlock the door by breaking the glass with a rock.

The owner found out that they stole a box of jewelry, a purse, a laptop, a cell phone, and some other items.

They exited the property by jumping over the wooden fence in the same way they entered:

The entire event lasted no longer than 10 minutes.

The fact that they were armed could classify this as a home invasion (read more about it here).

They must have seen the security sign as this happened during the day.

The fact that one of them didn’t even cover his face properly suggests that they were willing to do anything to steal the items.

This means that they are extremely dangerous and we would classify this event as a high security threat.

Now, let’s see the what are is possible to in order to protect this house from the burglaries.

Home security suggestions

Before we start, there is a thing we have to mention – we don’t have a full house plan or wider area details in order to properly examine what can be done.

However, from the recording we can assume that the house looks something like this:

In this 3D house model, there is an open front yard and a wooden fence protecting the backyard.

The door that allowed the burgers to enter is most likely located in the backyard.

Two groups of security measures are necessary for houses like this.

• Electronic solutions
• Physical measures

The Electronic home security solutions include things such as alarm systems, video surveillance, various sensors and smart locks.

Here we have the following equipment:

• Surveillance cameras
• Motion-activated outdoor lights
• Alarm systems
• Smart locks
• Various sensors
• Dummy security devices

On the other hand, we have the Physical home security measures that aim to block doors and windows or make it difficult to enter.

This usually includes:

• Warning signs
• Fence protection
• Windows and doors protection
• Guarding dog

Electronic Solutions

The house has a visible camera surveillance system, which is always good.

As we previously stated, we believe that the owner has a camera system consisting of four cameras.

Our assumption is that two cameras were recording the backyard, while the other two cameras were recording the front yard.

The placement of the cameras was done correctly. They covered as much of the area as they could.

We don’t know if the owner has installed outdoor lights with motion detection, but we would recommend it as well.

It’s possible that the house doesn’t have smart locks and alarm systems.

When the sensors were triggered, these systems would sound an alarm and notify the owner.

Here are the examples:

• Keyless Entry Door Lock with Keypad
• Whose house security system (20 piece kit)

Lastly, we have the various sensors that should be installed.

There are simple alarm systems with glass break detection, such as these on Amazon:

• Window alarm system 4-pack
• Window alarm system 8-pack

They don’t send the notification to your phone, but a loud alarm sound of 125 dB will definitely notify the neighbors.

Finally, we have the dummy security devices. Their purpose is to create sounds, lights, or simply act as a security system and deter the burglars.

For instance, there are solar outdoor sensors that can produce the sound of barking dogs or gunshots instead of a loud alarm.

Here is one product that can do this:

HULPPRE Solar Outdoor Motion Sensor Alarm-13 Sounds Including Dog Barking&Gunshot,2*130db Loud Noise

There is also something for the interiors – fake TV light and fake shadows:

• Realistic Television Simulator with Reflective Lens
• Attendance Simulator – Security System That Casts Shadows on Curtains or Walls

Let’s not forget the dummy security cameras, such as this pack. They could be placed near the fence, so they can be seen from the street.

All of these electronic security items should be enough to prevent burglaries from happening again.

But, the physical measures may be more important in this case.

Physical Measures

Let’s start with the most basic physical measure – warning signs.

Although the burglars won’t be stopped, your warning has legal implications.

Here is a simple No trespassing aluminum sign that you can get on Amazon.

They should be placed outside the property. In this case, they could be attached to the wooden fence and placed in the front yard.

The fence protection is probably the most important thing for this house.

We have a perfect suggestion for the wooden fence – this product:

Heavy Duty Metal Fence Spikes-Anti Climb Security Spikes for Fence

Source: Amazon

These anti climb spikes can be easily attached to the wooden fence and prevent the intruders from jumping over.

We saw on the video that both burglars used the backyard fence as their entry and exit point:

If these spikes were present, they would not be able to accomplish this.

Here is the collection of these anti climb spikes on Amazon.

In the event that you require double protection, this is something that can be added to the wooden fence:

Electric Fence Wire Kit

These are usually used to maintain animals in a specific area, but they could also be used for home protection.

The electric wire should be attached to the fence at a height that is sufficient, such as this:

This will prevent anyone from bypassing the anti-climb spikes, because the next thing they’ll encounter would be the electric wire.

Here is the full collection of these products.

They should be followed by a warning sign that clearly shows that there is an electric wire, such as this sign.

The owner mentioned the window and door bars, which are a good physical security measure. It’s important to install them from the outside, so they can be seen by everyone.

Lastly, we have a guarding dog.

Not everyone will be able to get a dog, but dogs are very useful in terms of securing the property (read more here).

Given that the burglars were armed, maybe they would shoot at the dog, but it is unlikely because everyone would hear it and alarm the police.

Additional – Community Collaboration

This event happened in the area where people live.

We don’t have a single house without anyone to alarm the owner and police. Such scenario in our article Small Square House Outdoor Security Plan (<500 sq ft).

But this is a populated area, which allows for one more security measure: community collaboration.

We talked about it in The role of community in home security article.

It’s important to take care of it, particularly since the burglary occurred twice.

The swift response and information sharing among neighbors, coupled with the support from local law enforcement, would enhance their collective security efforts.

Case Study Summary

Through this case study, we’ve seen the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by burglars, even if the owner has installed a surveillance system.

The analysis of this event underscores the need for robust electrical and physical security measures, including fence protection, additional security cameras, motion-activated lighting, and reinforced doors and windows.

Furthermore, the case study emphasizes the significance of community collaboration in crime prevention.

By learning from this incident, homeowners can take informed actions to fortify their homes against similar threats.

Let this case study be a catalyst for positive change, inspiring us to prioritize our safety and work together to prevent future incidents.